§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if residents of the Channel Islands are eligible for concessionary television licences. [143522]
§ Janet AndersonResidents of the Channel Islands are eligible for the £5 Accommodation for Residential Care television licence scheme and the 50 per cent. reduction in the licence fee for registered blind people. They are not currently eligible for free television licences for the over-75s, though the Guernsey authorities have announced their intention in principle to introduce such a concession. Unlike the Accommodation for Residential Care scheme and the reduction for blind people, which are funded from within the television licensing system, the cost of the over-75 concession is met from public funds. Whether or not to fund such a concession in the Channel Islands is therefore a matter for the Island authorities.
§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications have been received for the concessionary television licence scheme. [143526]
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§ Janet AndersonI take it that the hon. Member has in mind free television licences for people aged 75 or over, which came into force on 1 November. Approximately 3.1 million applications have been received for this concession, of which 210,000 are from people under 75 applying in advance.